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Epidemiology

Diet quality measured by four a priori-defined diet quality indices is associated with lipid-soluble micronutrients in the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC)

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 703–713 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

This study examined the long-term relation of lipid-soluble micronutrients with diet quality as assessed by four a priori-defined dietary patterns.

Subjects/Methods

In a prospective design, nutritional biomarkers (carotenoids, tocopherols, retinol, and coenzyme Q10) were measured using a validated HPLC-based assay. General linear models were applied to obtain covariate-adjusted means of biomarkers for tertiles of four a priori diet quality indices: Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010, Alternative HEI (AHEI) 2010, Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). For a subcohort of 8367 participants within the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC), diet was assessed by a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1993–96 and serum was collected in 2001–06.

Results

Participants with the highest diet-quality scores had significantly higher serum concentrations of all carotenoids, total tocopherols, and α-tocopherol, whereas γ-tocopherol was inversely associated with diet quality. Adjusted means for the lowest vs. highest tertile of HEI 2010 were 1.2 vs. 1.5 mg/L for total carotenoids, 11.4 vs. 12.3 mg/L for total tocopherols, and 1.9 vs. 1.6 mg/L for γ-tocopherol (ptrend < 0.0001). The associations for the other dietary indices were similar; no indication for sex and ethnic differences was detected. Vegetable and fruit components were major predictors of most circulating micronutrients, but most other components were also associated.

Conclusions

Higher diet-quality scores measured by four a priori diet quality indices were significantly associated higher serum concentrations of carotenoids and α-tocopherol, whereas γ-tocopherol was inversely associated with diet quality.

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Acknowledgements

The Multiethnic Cohort has been supported by NCI grants R37 CA54281 (PI: LNK), U01 CA164973 (PI: LLM/CAH/LRW), and P30 CA71789 (PI: R. Holcombe). NA was supported by a student fellowship from the German Research Foundation (PROMOS) and from the Susanne Marie Sophie Haufen Foundation. None of the funders had a role in the design, analysis, or writing of this article

Author contributions:

LNK, LLM, and LRW led the design and implementation of the prospective cohort. CJB provided nutritional support and developed the diet scores. AF provided analytical services for micronutrient quantitation. NA and GM analyzed the data and wrote the paper. NA, CJB, AF, RVC, CAH, LRW, LNK, KRM, and GM contributed to the interpretation of the data, the critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, and the final approval of the version to be published. NA had primary responsibility for final content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital Munich, München, Germany

    Nicole Aumueller

  2. Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Nicole Aumueller, Carol J. Boushey, Adrian A. Franke, Lynne R. Wilkens, Laurence N. Kolonel, Loic Le Marchand & Gertraud Maskarinec

  3. Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Robert V. Cooney

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kristine R. Monroe & Christopher A. Haiman

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Aumueller, N., Boushey, C.J., Franke, A.A. et al. Diet quality measured by four a priori-defined diet quality indices is associated with lipid-soluble micronutrients in the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC). Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 703–713 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0272-1

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